NeXtMidas provides several shell operating modes:
Interactive

The shell is explicitly started using nm, and commands are entered in response to the shell prompt.

This uses a conventional, text-based command window for interaction.
```
$ nm
nM> 
```
One-Shot

A single command is run from the operating system prompt. A temporary shell is started to manage command execution.

Usually used to launch a finished application.
```
$ nm myapp
<Runs the MYAPP application and exits.>
$ 
```
WebStart

NeXtMidas is launched via Java WebStart. (See the WebStart module for details.)

Web Service

NeXtMidas is run on a web server and acts as a web service.

This is really a special case of One-Shot mode.

"Independent" Mode

Used when running NeXtMidas from an external script.

Allows running NeXtMidas without nmstart and nmend.

See nm -H for more details.
```
$ ${JAVAHOME}/bin/java -classpath /home/smith/nxm212/tools/ NmClassLoader &
> -INDEPENDENT "mymacro param1 param2"
```
Java Class

The nxm.sys.lib.NeXtMidas class allows users to specify setup arguments and run a single command or multiple commands in sequence.

Can be run outside and inside a Java application.

(See Running NeXtMidas Independently in the User's Guide for details.)